The Lehman Trilogy play set for Florian Zeller adaptation

Florian Zeller is to adapt Tony Award-winning play The Lehman Trilogy as the first project from his company Blue Morning Pictures.

The project will see the Academy Award-winning filmmaker join forces with Lorenzo Mieli (The Apartment) and Domenico Procacci (Fandango) to adapt Stefano Massini’s play.

The Lehman Trilogy charts the history of one of the financial institutions that helped spark the 2008 recession following its collapse. It will be Zeller’s first project since launching his Mediawan-backed production company Blue Morning with former Creative Agency Agent (CAA) Federica Sainte-Rose.

Zeller will direct, write and co-produce.

It follows the premiere of Zeller’s most recent film The Son, starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby.

The Lehman Trilogy will be exec produced by Mieli (The Apartment Pictures) and Procacci (Fandango). The duo previously worked together on the acclaimed series My Brilliant Friend, based on the Elena Ferrante novels which aired on HBO and Italian broadcaster Rai 1 in 2018.

The partnership was secured by Blue Morning co-founder Sainte-Rose and De Maio Entertainment’s Lorenzo De Maio who will also exec produce.

“The Lehman trilogy is a fascinating tale of family and power which spans decades in an ever changing social and political landscape in America. I could not dream of a richer canvas on which to work and so grateful to everyone who made this a reality,” said Zeller.

The original production of the Lehman Trilogy inspired Sam Mendes to stage an English-language version of Massini’s five-hour play. Adapted by Ben Power, the production won five Tony Awards earlier this year, including prizes for Sam Mendes’ direction and for the lead performance of Simon Russell Beale.

The adaptation does not currently have a broadcaster attached.

Zeller is represented by CAA and Adequat in France, as well as attorneys Carlos Goodman and Mitch Smelkinson at Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson & Christopher.